Method of and apparatus for regulating combustion



T. A. PEEBLES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING COMBUSTION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13. 1 918.

1,339,00Q. A Pawllted y 4,1920.

'6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FIE-3.1-

WITNESSES INVENTOR T. A.. PEEBLES.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATINGCOMBUSTION.

APPLICATION FILED u a.1s. 1918.

Patented May 4, 19 20.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III

'o' m (1' D WITNESSES ANVENTOR T. A. PEEBLES. METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR REGULATING COMBUSTION.

Patnted May4, 1920.

(i SHEETS-SHEET 3- APPLICATION FILED AUG-13,1918- FIE.E|-

WITNESSES INVENTOR (3 g 03? QQMQP MMEM T. A. PEEBLES.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING COMBUSTION.

APPUCATION FILED AUG. 13, 1918. 1,339,000.

WITNESSES 9 4 a A m m 1 m w m f A m m m m m m vN o P a a Q \N 1 W a? Q (Wm B Q R%. QM o 3 r w 2 Q o N NO 5 QM 3 9v Y \N m flm ,W QM; a 1 F m M I w W m L T. A. PEEBLES.

I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING COMBUSTION. 1,339,000.

APPLICATION FIL ED AUG. 13, 1318.

Patented May 4,1920

6 SHEE-TS-SHEET 5.

FIGS.

Igilfs'rofi m @MMM- $113M T. A. PEEBLES. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING COMBUSTION-.

. I APPLICATION FILED AUG. I3, 1918. 1,33 9,000. P tented May 4, 1920.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

FIBE.

INVENTOR WITNESSES WW- I LUNITED STATES rgrnur OFFICE THOMAS A. 'PEEIBLES, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN M.

4 HOPWOOD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR'REGULATING COMBUSTION:

Application filed August 13,

discovered certain new and useful Improve ments in Methods of and Apparatus for Regulating Combustion, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The invention described herein-'relates to certain improvements in the control or regulation of the rate of combustion of fur naces for boilers. and has for its object the provision of means operative by and in ac-' cordance with the flow of steam to the point of usefor regulating the feed of fuel, the flow of air to, and the escape of gases from the furnace, and also the regulation of the same operations by andin accordance with changes of pressure in the boiler. The invent-ion is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the boiler and its setting, the latter being in section and 1 having combined therewith appliances suit able for the practice of the invention;- Figs. 2, 3' and'4 are similar views illustrating modifications oi the method of operation,

- Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevationof the regulating mechanism,

and Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the compensating mechanism.

In the practice of the invention it is preferred to employ the 'form' of regulating. mechanism shown in Fig. 5. As shown therein, the prime motor consists, of a dia-- phragm 1 arranged in a. shell 'or casing 2, preferably constructed as shown and de-' scribed in Letters Patent No. 1,094,116, dated April 21,1914, Francis H. Brown. The shell is so connected by a pipe 3 to the outlet pipe it: of the boiler, as by a Pitot tube 4, that one side of the diaphragm will be subjected to c a pressure equal to the pressure in the boiler diminished or increased an amount proportional to the rate of flow of steam dependent on the'arrangement of the Pitot tube fi The opposite side of the diaphragmiis sub- .jected to a fluid pressure equal to the normal working pressure of steam in the outlet pipe. This pressure is applied through a fluid cushion formed in a chamber 5 communicat ing with the underside of the shellor cas-. ing 2 through a port 6. Au inverted cap 7 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 4, 1920.

1918. Serial No. 249,654..

' I 7. v is arranged in the chamber which is then filled or partially filled with liquid through a port 8 which is then closed by a screw-plug established between the chambers on op posite sides of the diaphragm by opening the valve 9 in the passage 10. After an equalization of pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragm has 'ibeen established, the valve '9 is closed so that thereafter one side of the diaphragm will be subjected to-the pressure of the air cushion in the 'cup, such pressure being equal to the normal working pressure 111 the boiler IIllIlllS an amount'pro- I portional to the normal rate of flow of steam through the outlet pipe-4. The pressure on both sides being equal, any change in the rate of flow of steam or in the static pressure in the outlet will decrease or increase the pressure on the, upper side of the diaphragm a proportional amount, an increase inthe fiow causing a reduction of pressure on the diaphragm, as will also a decrease in thestatic pressure, while a decrease in the rate of flow or an increase of static pressure will cause an increase of pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm.

The diaphragm l isconnected by. ayrod 11- passing diametrically through the dia-l,

phragm to the arms of a lever 12 which is partially mounted at 12 and has its outer". end adjustably connected to a pivotally mounted beam 13. A bell crank' lever 14; is

)ivotally mounted on this beam and ha's'an arm connected to the stem 15 of the pilot' valve 16 which may be of any suitableconstruction, while the other *arm of the bell crank is connected by a l-ink 17 to. a pivotal-ly mountedpost 18. When the beam is shifted by the diaphragm, the bell crank. will move with it andthereby shift the movable member of the valve mechanism 16 which is connected through port} 16 to any suitable source'of fluid under pressureand admit pressure to one end of the cylinder 19 to move its piston which is connected by the rod 20 to the frame 21. Oneof the legs of this frame has a block 22 secured thereto,

said .bloclr'havidg therein a roove for the reception of a bar 23. whic is pivotally mounted. on theupper end of the pivotally LettersPatentNo. 1,247,217, dated Novem-- :42; reaaooe imported o angle to the axis of the cylsufiiciently to so shift the bell crank lever 14 as to close the pilot valve which has been opened by the movement of the diaphragm. It is charmi-teristic of the construction employed that for each movement of the diaphragm an incremental movement will be imparted to the frame 21. j

The frame 21 is connected to a pivotally mounted arm 24 having a through a link 25 to the movable member of a valve mechanism, which is preferably of the construction shown and described in her 20th, 1917 Francis H. Brown. As shown and described .in said patent, the movable member consists of a cylinder having ports or openings adapted-to be moved into alinement with ports in the talve shell both by a longitudinal and a rotary movement ofthe cylindrical member. In the arrangement shown herein, which is substan-' tially similar to the construction shown in Figs. 2, 7, and 8 of said patent, the arm 24 is connected to the stem 26 of the cylindrical Y shell 27 so that by the movement of the frame .21, as hereinbefore described, the

valve 27 will be moved longitudinally of the cylinder 28 to change the relative positions of the ports in the valve and those in the c linder 28. Simultaneous with the longitu' inal movement of the valve, a rotary .movement is also imparted to it so as to increase or diminish the extent of alinement of the ports in the valve and cylinder'respectively. I -VVhile other means maybe em- .ployed, the construction shown has been found preferable. An arm 29 is secured to the stem 26 of the valve and is also engaged by a block 30 slidably mounted on a bar 31 carried by the frame 32. This frame is pivotally mounted on a standard 33 in order that the frame and bar 31 may be adjusted to an angular position relative to the'valve whereby'a rotary movement will be impart-- ed to the valve 27, the'extent of such rotary movement for a given longitudinal movestem 26. When the stem 26 is moved longi tudinally by the arm 24,.the block 30-will be moved along the angularly arranged bar,

ment being dependent .on the angular-ity of the bar 31.

,' When' employing the t ions on the movement of the frame by an amount proportional to theincremental niovement of the frame. The connection be- 18. iii'his barcan be adjusted at by anydesired movement connection cated at 48.

described mecha- IIIISIII 1n-the practice .of the nvention, a

tween the valve and damper can be formed by a cord 35 having one end secured to one end of the frame and after passing around suitably arranged guide pulleys 36 and one or more turns around a drum 37 on the shaft of the valve or damper, has its opposite end also connected to a weight or to the lower end of the frame 21.

Air is forced through a conduit 38 to a point anterior to the bed of fuel by a blower 39 operating at a uniform rate as shown in Fig. 2, the motor being directly'connected to the boiler by a pipe 40.. The flow of air through the conduit is regulated by a valve or damper 41, which is operatively connected by a cord 42 to the piston rod43 of a fluid pressure cylinder 44 which in turn is controlled by "and in accordance with changes of pressure of gases in the portion-of the fire-box posterior to the bed of fuel. The mechanism preferably employed for controlling the operation of the fluid pressure motor. 44, is diagrammatically indicated at .45, is shown in Fig 4 of Patent No.

1,150,097, dated August 17,1915, Francis 1 H. Brown. As shown and described in'said patent, changes of pressure ofgases in the firebox cause an up .or down movement of an inverted cup-immersed in water or other liqu d, and said cup is connected by suitable means to-a valve mechanism controllmg the How of steamo'r other fluid under pressure other suitable source of fluid'under pressure and its outlet. port connecte'dby the pipe 47 to the motor ofthe stokingmechani'sm indi- As hereinbe fore stated, when the mechanism is adjusted for normal conditions the pressures on the under side of the diaphragm l is equal to the-normal working pressure in the generator'and the pressure above the diaphragm is equal to the static pressure in the inlet pipeminus the reduc- .tion due to the rate of flow of-steamthrough such pipe, and the damper and stoking combustion conditions. Incase of changes of rate of flow due to changes in the load on the engine, or from any other cause, the diamechanism are adjusted to maintain normal I I shifting. of the pilot valvewill not be total but only for a predetermined increment of its total. range, as the pilot valve will be of generation varies from the demand,,the

closed by the described mechanism, only at the end of the predetermined increment. The shifting of the'frame 21 will eifect a corresponding incremental opening or closing movement of the. damper 34 controlling the outflow of gasesand products of combustion. The shifting of the damper 34 will cause a decreaseor increase of pressure in the fire box and such change in pressure operating through the mechanism indicated at 45' will cause an' incremental opening or closing of the damper or,valve 41in the air supply conduit 38 in the forms shown-in Figs'.2 and 3. The described movement of the frame 21 will effect a. movement of the roto-reciprocating valve controlling the opmay be had on regulating the operations involved in maintaining desired generating conditions, on regulation as effected by and in accordance with the flow of steam, it is possible that as the rate of fiow'is not affected-by the. static pressure, but the latter is affected by the rate of flow, when the rate latter may be so, great relative to the rate of generationthat the static pressure will drop, hence provision is made for regulating the operations of feeding fuel and air and regulating the outflow of gases from the-furnace by and in accordance with changes of static pressure of the steam in the outlet pipe. To this end, the means, as forexample, the

Pitottube 4*, employed for varying the pressure on the diaphragm by and in accordance with the rate of flow of steam from the boiler, is so constructed and arranged in the outlet pipe 4 that the static pressure-on- It will be readily understood that if the Pitot'tube should be so arranged in the outlet pipe, that the total pressure would be increased as the .flow increased, and the mechanism operated and controlled by the diaphragm were adjusted to bring about increased combustion'when pressure on thediaphragm, due to greater flow, increased, then a decrease in static pressure, the flow being constant, would permit of'the dia-,

phragm being shifted by the constant ressure of the fluid pressure cushion, an the operation of the mechanism controlled by' the diaphragm would be reversed or so operated as to reduce combustion in the fire box at a time when increased combustion is required. But by providing for the shifting of the diaphragm in the same direction; by a change of pressure, whether such ,changes are due to variations inflow or to variations in static pressure, the rate of combustion will be regulated to compensate in I furnace.

longitudinally, by the Fi s. Ian

the same direction for variations in flow and in static pressure;

In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 are shown the modifications as regards the control of combustion operations by and in accordance with the rate of flow of steam in the outlet pipe and also by and in accordance with variations in trolling the flow of air to a point anterior to the fuel bed by and in accordance with the pressure of gases in the furnace, such flow is controlled by the roto reciprocating valve whose outlet pipe 47 is connected not only to the stoking mechanism as shown in Fig. 2 but also to the blower mechanism 39 and hence the operation of such blower mechanism will vary as the position of the valve mechanism is changed, and the valve mechanism is shifted by and in accordance with changes in dynamic pressure in the outlet P p j In Fig. 3is a shown a combination in which the stack damper 34 is controlled as hereinbefore described, and the flow of air to a point anterior to the fuel bed is controlled by and inaccordance with the pressure of gases in the furnace, but in lieu of controlling the stoking mechanism directly in vaccordance with" variations in dynamic pressure in the outlet'pipe, such control is effected by and in accordance with changes of pressure of gases in the furnace, and to this endthe stem 26 of the movable member of the roto-reciprocatin lva'lve is connected a to the piston rod 43 o t'h'e' -fliiid pressure cylinder 44 of the mechanism 45' by a cord 46. As the lever 24 forming the operating connection between the frame 21 and-the movable member of theroto-reciprocating valve mechanism is omitted,the position of the movable member'of this valve mechanismwill be determined by the mechanism 45 subjected to the pressure of gases in the In Fig. 4 is shown a combination controling the rate of combustion under natural draft conditions. As shown in Figs/l, 2, and.3,- the frame 21 is connected-bya cord 35 to the damper 34 in the 'outletconduit 35 so that the esca e of gases from the furnace will be 'contro led by and in accordance with variations in the dynamic Fressure of the steam in the outlet pipe 4. he stoking mechanism 48 iscontrolled, as 'hereinbefore described, by the roto-reciprocating valve, the movable member of which is shiftable frame 21 asshown in d i 7 claim hereinas my invention:

1. As an improvement in the art of generating vapor, the method herein described which consists in supplying fuel to the fire box of the generator, supplying air for combustion, conducting away the products of combustion, and adjusting one of the foregoing operations by and in accordance with changes in the static pressure of the vapor and by and in accordance with changes in pressure resulting from the static pressure in a boiler diminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of vapor from the generator.

'2. As an improvement in the art ofgen eration of vapor, the method herein described'which consistsin supplying fuel to the fire box. of the generator, supplying air for combustion, conducting away the prod nets of combustionland varying the rate of crating vapor, the method herein described which consists in supplying fuel to the fire box of the generator, supplying air for combustion, conducting away the products of combustion and varying the escape of products of combustion from the furnace of the boiler and the flow of air to a point anterior to .the bed of fuel in the furnace by and in accordance with changes in a pressure resulting from static pressure diminished by and in accordance with the rate of flow of vapor .from the boiler and byand in accordance with changes from the normal static pressure in the boiler.

4. As an improvementin the art .of genv crating vapor, the method herein described which consists in supplying fuel tothe fire box of the generator,supplying air for combustion, conducting away the products of combustion and varying the feed of fuel to 'the furnace of the boiler and the flow of products of vcombustion from the boi1er by and in accordance with changes ina pres sure resulting from, static pressure diminished by and in iLCCOI'ClfiIlCQjVltl} the rate I v of flow of vapor from the boiler.

5. As an improvement in the' art'of generating vapor, the method -herein described which consists in supplying fuel to the fire box of-the generator supplying air for com-- bustion, conducting away the products of combustion and varying the rate of flow of gases and products of combustion from the furnace of a boiler by and in accordance withv changes in a pressure resulting from static pressure diminished bya'nd in accord ance with the rate of flow of vapors from the boiler and varying the feed of air to the furnace by and in accordance with changes of pressure of gases in the. furnace.

b. As animprovement in the art of. generating vapor, the method herein described which consists in supplying fuel to the fire boxof the generator supplying air forcombustion, conducting away the products of combustion and varying the escape of products of-combustion'froin and the feed of air and fuel to the furnace of the boiler by and in accordance with changes in a pressure resulting from static pressurediminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of vapor from the boiler.

7. As an improvement in the art of generating vapor, the method herein described which consists, in supplying fuel to thefire box of the generator, supplying air for co mbustion, conducting'away the products, of combustion and vary'ingthe escape of prod nets of combustion from the furnace and feed of fuel to the furnace of the generator by and in accordance with changes in a pressure resulting from static pressure diminished by and in accordance. with changes in the rate of flow of vapor fromv the boiler andvarying the feed of air to the furnace by and in accordance with the pressure of gases in the furnace.

8. In an apparatus for the generation of vapor, the combination of a boiler having a furnace, means for feeding fuel'to the furnace, means for supplying air forcombus tion to the furnace, means for controlling the flow of products of combustion from'tl e v fire box of the boiler, mean? operativeby and in accordance with'the cln nges in the static pressure of the steam and by and in accordance with changes ina pressure resulting from static pressure in a boiler diminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of steam flowing from the generator for adjusting one of the foregoing means. i I

9. In an apparatus forthe generation of vapor, the, combination of a boiler having a furnace, means for feeding fuel to the furuace,'means for supplying air for combustion to-the. furnace, means for controlling the flow of products of combustion from the fire box of theboiler andmechanism for -adjusting the means employed for controlling the flow of gases-and products of combus-v tion by and int accordancewith changes in the static press ire of the steam and by and in accordance with 'changes'in a pressure resulting from static pressure diminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of steam'from the boiler.

10. In an apparatus for the generation of vapor the combination of a boiler having a furnace, means for feeding fuel to the fur- .nace, means for supplying fair for combustion to the furnace, means for controlling the flow of products of combustion from the firebox of the boiler and means operative by and in accordance with changes in the normal static pressure of steam in the boiler and by and in accordance with a pressure resulting from the static pressure n the boiler diminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of vapor from the boiler for adjusting the means controlling the escape of products of combustion and the means controlling the flow of air to the furnace. y

11. In an apparatus for the generation of vapor the combination of a boiler having a furnace, means for feeding fuel to, the furnave, means for supplying air for combustion to the furnace, means for controlling the How of products of combustion from the firebox of the boiler and means operative by and in accordance with changes in the normal static pressure of steam in the boiler and by and-in accordance'ivith a pressure resulting from the static pressure in the boiler diminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of vapor,

from the boiler for regulating the feed of fuel to the furnace of the generator and the flow of products of combustion from the furnace. z

12. In an apparatus for the generation'of vapor the combination of a boiler having a furnace, means for feeding fuel to the furnace, means for! supplying air for combustion to the furnace, means for controlling the flow of products of combustion from the fire box of the boiler and means operative by and inaccordance with changes in the normal static pressure of steam in the boiler and'by and in accordance with a pressure resulting from the static pressure in the boiler diminished by and in accordance with changes in the rate of flow of vapor from the boiler for regulating the means controlling the flow of gases from the furnace'and the flow of air and the feed of fuel to the furnace and means operative by and in accordance with the changes of pressure of gases in the furnace for adjusting the air feeding .THoMAs A. PEEBLES. 

